View all news

Bristol to be part of high-value manufacturing Technology and Innovation Centre (TIC)

Artist's impression of the National Composites Centre

Artist's impression of the National Composites Centre

Press release issued: 17 March 2011

The National Composites Centre (NCC) at the University of Bristol has been named as a partner in the first of a UK-wide network of elite technology and innovation centres by the Deputy Prime Minister today.

The National Composites Centre ( NCC) at the University of Bristol has been named as a partner in the first of a UK-wide network of elite technology and innovation centres by the Deputy Prime Minister today.

Bristol’s NCC is one of seven highly capable and internationally recognised research centres around the country which will make up the new Technology and Innovation Centre (TIC) for high-value manufacturing.

This new centre will be one of a network of about six in which the Government will invest a total of more than £200 million over the next four years with the aim of enabling British businesses to commercialise the results of world-class research in the UK and access major new high-tech markets.

Responding to today’s announcement by the Deputy Prime Minister, the Executive Director of the National Composites Centre (NCC), Peter Chivers, said: “I am delighted for the NCC to be working with the five other centres – the Centre for Process Innovation in Wilton & Sedgefield, the Advanced Forming Research Centre at the University of Strathclyde, the Manufacturing Technology Centre in Coventry, the Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre in Rotherham and the Warwick Manufacturing Group at the University of Warwick - in the formation of the high-value manufacturing TIC.

"This is fantastic news for Bristol. Today’s announcement recognises the world-class expertise in advanced manufacturing in the South West and the fantastic potential of this industry to secure jobs and prosperity for decades to come.  On a more practical level, it will enable Bristol to solidify its position at the forefront of composites, an industry that is growing at eight per cent per year. This is a huge opportunity for the National Composites Centre.  The Deputy Prime Minister and Business Secretary have laid down the challenge – it is now up to us to meet that challenge.”

Guy Orpen, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Enterprise at the University of Bristol, commented: “There is no doubt that composites will form a vital part of the UK's manufacturing renaissance. This key part of the UK economy will be driven by closer collaboration between industry and the very best of academia and we are proud that the University of Bristol and the NCC’s initiating partners are playing such a significant role in this important part of the UK’s economy going forward. This is very good news for Bristol, the region and the UK.”

 

Edit this page